Internally illuminated video game cabinet

ABSTRACT

An internally illuminated electronic video game cabinet having a structural enclosure that permits internal illumination to shine out of the cabinet to illuminate nearby objects. The internally illuminated electronic video game cabinet includes a structural enclosure having at least one structural portion thereof that is at least partially transmissive of light, and the enclosure forms an interior electronics compartment. A support structure is provided within the compartment for supporting one or more electronic components; and an illumination source is provided within the compartment and positioned for illuminating at least a portion of the structural portion of the enclosure that is at least partially transmissive of light.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to cabinets and pertains particularly to a universal electronic video game cabinet having internal illumination and one or more exterior walls transmissive of light.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electronic video game cabinets are generally well-known as disclosed by Fogelman, et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,440,457, Universal Electronic Video Game Cabinet, dated Apr. 3, 1984, which is incorporated herein by reference. Electronic video games have evolved over time as have the electronics for playing the games.

Design and construction of the game cabinets have also evolved. However, game cabinets have remained substantially utilitarian as evidenced, for example, by Jansons, et al. in U.S. Design Pat. D280,748 “Arcade Game Cabinet” issued Sep. 24, 1985; by the Calabaros in U.S. Design Pat. 339,828 “Arcade Game Cabinet” issued Sep. 28, 1993; and by Nolte and Povey in U.S. Design Pat. D411,257 for “Video Game Arcade Cabinet” issued Jun. 22, 1999; and more recently by Don Stephan in U.S. Design Pat. D463,504 for “Winged Game Machine Cabinet” issued Sep. 24, 2002, which are all incorporated herein by reference, which all disclose merely utilitarian game cabinets having some ornamental design incorporated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an internally illuminated electronic video game cabinet having a structural enclosure that permits internal illumination to shine out of the cabinet to illuminate nearby objects.

According to one aspect of the invention the internally illuminated electronic video game cabinet includes a structural enclosure having at least one structural portion thereof that is at least partially transmissive of light, and the enclosure forms an interior electronics compartment. A support structure is provided within the compartment for supporting one or more electronic components; and an illumination source is provided within the compartment and positioned for illuminating at least a portion of the structural portion of the enclosure that is at least partially transmissive of light.

According to another aspect of the invention, the structural enclosure is formed of a plurality of structural wall panels that form at least one or more exterior walls thereof, and at least one of the structural wall panels is at least partially transmissive of light.

According to another aspect of the invention, the structural enclosure further includes a plurality of structural wall panels that form one or more exterior walls, and at least one of the structural exterior wall panels is at least partially substantially translucent. Optionally, at least one of the structural wall panels of the enclosure is substantially entirely substantially translucent.

According to another aspect of the invention, the structural enclosure includes a substantially transparent viewing screen on a front portion thereof.

According to another aspect of the invention, the enclosure also includes a console structure provided on a front portion thereof. Optionally, the console structure is formed of one or more structural panels, and at least one of the structural panels of the console structure is at least partially transmissive of light.

According to another aspect of the invention, the structural wall panels forming and one or more structural exterior walls is formed of one or more substantially translucent structural wall panels that form a front and two adjoining side structural wall portions of the enclosure.

According to another aspect of the invention, a control mechanism is coupled to the illumination source for controlling the illumination source.

According to another aspect of the invention, the internally illuminated electronic video game cabinet of the invention is incorporated in a video game machine of the invention that includes an electronics control module residing within the illuminated cabinet and having an electronic video game resident thereon and having a processor structured for executing the games. The video game machine of the invention also includes a video monitor that is coupled to receive video output signal of electronics control module for converting the video output signal to viewable format; and a control panel having a plurality of manual control elements mounted on the console structure, wherein one or more of the manual control elements is coupled to the electronics control module for controlling one or more elements of the electronic video game.

According to other aspect of the invention a method is provided for illuminating an electronic video game cabinet, the method of the invention includes forming a box-like cabinet structure having one or more exterior structural walls that are at least partially formed of a material that is substantially transmissive of light in the visible or ultraviolet spectrum. The method of the invention also includes defining an interior electronics compartment within the exterior structural walls of the box-like cabinet structure; mounting a substantially transparent viewing screen in a portion of one of the exterior walls; and internally illuminating at least a portion of the interior electronics compartment.

According to another aspect of the invention, the method of the invention also includes alternately energizing and de-energizing a light emitting device for illuminating at least a portion of the interior electronics compartment.

According to another aspect of the method of the invention, internally illuminating at least a portion of the interior electronics compartment further includes distributing a plurality of light emitting devices within the interior electronics compartment and adjacent to an interior surface of at least one of the exterior structural walls in a lighting relationship with a portion of the material that is substantially transmissive of light.

According to another aspect of the method of the invention, internally illuminating at least a portion of the interior electronics compartment by distributing a plurality of light emitting devices within the interior electronics compartment further includes distributing a plurality of differently colored light emitting devices; and alternately energizing and de-energizing differently colored ones of the light emitting devices.

Other aspects of the invention are detailed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary video game machine that illustrates the internally illuminated electronic video game cabinet of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a back perspective view showing the internally illuminated electronic video game cabinet of the invention illustrated by example and without limitation as the upstanding video game cabinet of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is another back perspective view showing the internally illuminated electronic video game cabinet of the invention illustrated by example and without limitation as the upstanding video game cabinet of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a back view showing the internally illuminated electronic video game cabinet of the invention illustrated by example and without limitation as the upstanding video game cabinet of FIG. 1 wherein a back panel thereof is removed for more clearly showing an interior compartment thereof; and

FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of a lighting system for generating and emitting light within the interior compartment of the internally illuminated electronic video game cabinet and projecting light thus generated against interior surfaces of the light transmissive structural panels that form the side, front and top portions of the internally illuminated video game cabinet of the invention, as well as the interior surface of an optionally light transmissive back panel thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the Figures, like numerals indicate like elements.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary video game machine 1 showing the internally illuminated electronic video game cabinet of the invention. By example and without limitation the electronic video game cabinet of the invention is embodied as an upstanding video game cabinet 10 having a number of substantially flat structural panels forming a box-like structure. However, it will be understood that the cabinet 10 of the invention may alternatively define a more squat structure as disclosed for example by Krutsch in U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,322 “Game Cabinet” issued Sep. 12, 1989, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. Alternatively, the cabinet 10 of the invention may alternatively define a softer curved structure as disclosed for example by Nolte and Povey in U.S. Design Pat. 411,257 “Video Game Arcade Cabinet” issued Jun. 22, 1999, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. Other shapes than those disclosed herein are also contemplated for the cabinet 10 of the invention and may be substituted without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Here, the game cabinet 10 is shown as being formed by individual structural Plexiglas panels that are connected together to define opposing side 12, top 14, and front 16 portions. One or more of the structural panels forming one or more of the side, top and front portions 12, 14, 16 of the game cabinet 10 are at least partially transmissive of light in the spectrum normally optically visible to people, i.e., light ranging from red through orange, yellow, green, blue and violet. Alternatively, the panels are optionally transmissive of ultraviolet (UVA) so called “black” light that is visible to humans only as a purplish glow. However, although one or more of the structural panels is at least partially transmissive of light in the normally visible spectrum or ultraviolet, the structural panels may be optically opaque to a portion of the wavelengths within the visible spectrum without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example; the structural panels may block light transmission having wavelengths in the extreme higher and lower ends of the visible spectrum without having substantial affect on the light transmission qualities desirable in the panels forming the game cabinet 10. Alternatively, the individual structural panels may optionally block light in substantially all but a single wavelength of the visible spectrum and only transmit light in specific wavelengths, such as red or blue or green, in other words, the structural panels may be colored. Additionally, the individual structural panels forming the game cabinet 10 may be generally light transmissive but have areas of substantially opacity without substantial affect on the desirable light transmission qualities. For example, one or more of the substantially light transmissive structural panels may include ornamental designs that are substantially opaque to light in the visible spectrum. Such designs may be astrological, as disclosed by the Calabaros in U.S. Design Pat. 339,828 “Arcade Game Cabinet” issued Sep. 28, 1993, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. Other designs are also contemplated for the cabinet 10 of the invention and may be substituted without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Alternatively, the transmissibility of one or more of the structural panels may be varied within the normally visible spectrum to form such ornamental designs or decorative accents. For example, the transmissibility may be varied by thinning the structural panels in an ornamental pattern, as by engraving, whereby more light is transmitted in the thinner areas, while less light is transmitted in thicker areas. Alternatively, the structural panels can be “stained” or inlaid with different colors of light transmissible material that transmit light only in specific wavelengths, such as red or blue or green, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The individual structural panels may be substantially clear or transparent so that interior portions thereof may be seen from the outside. Such transparent structural panels may optionally include distortion that inhibits clear vision, commonly referred to as “privacy glass.” For example, transparent structural panels may have non-flat patterned or “pebbled” or “wavy” exterior or interior surfaces that diffuse light and distort vision, or may have surface distortions such as frosted, etched or crazed appearance that effectively diffuse light and distort vision.

Alternatively, the individual structural panels may be translucent for transmitting light without being optically transparent, in other words, the panels may have a milky, cloudy, chalky or creamy appearance that effectively blocks vision but permits transmission of light. All such variations of light transmissive structural panels and combinations of such variations being at least partly transmissive of light in at least one of the wavelengths known to be in the spectrum normally visible to humans, including the ultraviolet, are similarly contemplated for one or more of the sides 12, top 14, and front 16 portions of the cabinet 10 of the invention and may be substituted without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Hereinafter, such structural panels are referred to generically as “light transmissive structural panels” with all the variations forming species thereof. At least one and optionally more of the sides 12, top 14, and front 16 portions of the cabinet 10 thus include one or more light transmissive structural panels. Optionally, all of the sides 12, top 14, and front 16 portions of the cabinet 10 are formed substantially entirely of light transmissive structural panels. Although disclosed above as Plexiglas panels, the panels forming each of the side, top and front portions 12, 14, 16 may be formed of another material, such as window glass, fiberglass, or a plastic such as polyethylene that is at least partly transmissive of light in at least one of the wavelengths in the visible spectrum. Additionally, each of the side top and front portions 12, 14, 16 of the cabinet 10 may be formed of one or multiple interconnected panels of the same or different materials.

The cabinet 10 includes a console structure 18 on the front portion 16 at a convenient height for access by the player. The console structure 18 is optionally formed of one or more of the light transmissive structural panels. A substantially transparent viewing screen 20 is mounted on the front portion 16 at a convenient height above the console structure 18 to permit viewing by the player. The screen 20 may be mounted at a slight angle to the vertical to provide a more comfortable or easy viewing position. Alternatively, the front portion 16 of the cabinet 10 includes an opening (indicated at “20”) that is structured for receiving a video monitor therein with its own viewing screen exposed through the opening 20.

FIG. 2 is a back perspective view showing the internally illuminated electronic video game cabinet of the invention by example and without limitation embodied as the upstanding video game cabinet 10. As illustrated here, the video game cabinet 10 of the invention includes a back panel 22 that is optionally formed of another light transmissive structural panel of the type discussed herein above. The back panel 22 includes an access panel 24.

FIG. 3 is another back perspective view showing the internally illuminated electronic video game cabinet of the invention by example and without limitation embodied as the upstanding video game cabinet 10. As illustrated here, the back panel 22 of the video game cabinet 10 is removed for clarity, and an interior electronics compartment 26 is exposed. The interior compartment 26 may be substantially divided by one or more shelves 28 for mounting equipment therein. By example and without limitation, the shelf 28 may be positioned to support a video monitor 30 positioned for viewing through the transparent screen 20 at the front portion 16 of the cabinet 10. By example and without limitation, the video monitor 30 is a flat screen LCD or plasma device of known construction.

The interior electronics compartment 26 contains an electronics control module 32 (shown in wire-frame for clarity) of a known construction such as a computer having one or more electronic video games resident thereon and having a processor structured for executing the games. The video monitor 30 is coupled in a known fashion to receive a video output signal of the electronics control module 32 for converting the video output signal to viewable format.

A control panel 34 (more clearly shown in FIG. 1) is provided on the front portion 16 of the cabinet 10 at a convenient height for access by the player. For example, the control panel 34 is built into the console structure 18. The control panel 34 includes several manual control elements such as buttons 36, switches 38 or other control elements such as joy sticks, rotary knobs, or rotating spheres that are interconnected through the electronics of the video game machine 1 for controlling the player controlled elements or components of the electronic video game in the machine 1. The control panel 34 is optionally formed of one or more of the light transmissive structural panels.

A coin receiving and return mechanisms 40, or “coin slot,” (best shown in FIG. 1) is optionally provided at a convenient location on the front portion 16 of the cabinet 10 and coupled for triggering the electronics control module 32 for executing a game. Alternatively, the coin mechanisms 40 can be simulated by one of the buttons 36 or switches 38 when the game software requires such trigger.

A light source 42 is mounted within the interior compartment 26 of the box-like video game cabinet structure 10 for emitting light in the optically visible spectrum. The same or an additional light source 42 is optionally resident within the console structure 18 when the console structure 18 is formed having one or more of the light transmissive structural panels. The light source 42 is any device capable of emitting light in the visible spectrum. However, as illustrated here, the light source 42 may be one or more strands or “garlands” of light bulbs wired together along plastic coated electrical wires. The light bulbs are optionally light emitting diodes (LEDs) which have the advantages of being reliable and long lasting as well as generating very little heat. Such light garlands are commonly commercially available. When the light source 42 is provided as a light garland, the garland can be limited to only a small portion of the interior compartment 26 or strung throughout and even wound about components such as the electronics control module 32, as illustrated.

The cabinet 10 is provided with electrical power, for example, by power strip 44 that is optionally mounted inside the interior electronics compartment 26 and having multiple electrical power receptacles 46 each coupled to a power cord 48 with a connector 50 for plugging into a wall receptacle or power source. The power strip 44 optionally includes a manual power interrupt or “on/off” switch 52.

FIG. 4 is a back view of the video game cabinet structure 10 with the back panel 22 removed for showing the interior compartment 26. The video monitor 30 and electronics control module 32 are also removed for more clearly showing the garland-type light source 42. Optionally, a frame 54 is provided as a hanger for the garland-type light source 42 to support it within the compartment 26 and space it away from such components as the electronics control module 32. The same frame 54 or another frame 56 (shown) optionally supports the garland-type light source 42 relative to the video monitor 30. Alternatively, the garland-type light source 42 is draped over the video monitor 30 for support.

The light emitting device that provides the light source 42 is embodied according to any of several different configurations. According to one optional embodiment, the light emitting device of the light source 42 is a common light bulb in a common lamp fixture of a well-known conventional design. The light bulb may be an ordinary fluorescent or incandescent bulb that emits light covering substantially the entire visible spectrum, i.e., “white” light, or alternatively emits light registering in specific wavelengths, such as red or blue or green or yellow or another color. In other words, the light emitted by the device 42 may be colored. The light bulb is optionally a “black” light of the type that emits ultraviolet (UVA) light such that fluorescent colors in surrounding objects absorbs the radiation and fluoresce or re-emit the UVA light in the visible spectrum so it looks much brighter than a normal color. White T-shirts and socks normally glow under a black light because modern detergents deposit phosphors that convert UV light into white light. These phosphor deposits make whites look “whiter than white” under black light. Many other substances fluoresce naturally under black light, including liquid detergents (above), quinine (in tonic water), and some types of paper money.

The light emitting device of the light source 42 may be composed of several light bulbs in a simple table lamp fixture or on a simple pole lamp fixture. These light bulbs may be white, colored or black, or any combination. Alternatively, the light emitting device of the light source 42 is optionally a light “sculpture” configured as a concrete or free-form object d'art. The sculpture light source 42 may be a light set having a plurality of strings of series connected miniature lamps permanently joined in parallel circuit as disclosed by example and without limitation by Lerner in U.S. Pat. No. 3,723,723 “Christmas Tree Electric Light Decoration Set” issued Mar. 27, 1973, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference, which discloses the plurality of strings of miniature lamps being draped in free fall fashion at different radiant angles relative to the axis of a Christmas tree. Lerner also discloses that a flasher lamp may be added in series with the series connected lamps of each string. Alternatively, the parallel connected lamps (of the strings of parallel connected lamps) may be flasher lamps.

When provided as a fluorescent light bulb, the light emitting device of the light source 42 may be composed of bendable fluorescent light tubes that are formed into a desirable shape, including a picture such as a brand logo, or a scripted personal or brand name, word or phrase, such as a popular advertisement.

The lamp fixture or sculpture may be a stand alone LED display having several LED lamp bulbs of a single or multiple different colors, by example and without limitation, as disclosed by Hollis in U.S. Design Pat. D378,745 “Stand Alone LED Display” issued Apr. 8, 1997, for an ornamental design for a stand alone LED display, as shown and described therein, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.

The lamp fixture or sculpture may be a bundle or optical fibers having the white, black, or colored lights at its base and spreading the color over the interior compartment 26 like a bouquet of flowers. Such bundles of optical fibers are known to be capable of forming beautiful optical patterns in the form of flowers, letters, etc. as disclosed by Ban in U.S. Pat. No. 4,433,362 “Remotely Controllable Illumination Apparatus” issued Feb. 21, 1984, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.

The lamp fixture or sculpture may be positionally fixed, i.e., stationary, within the compartment 26; or may be mobile by means of a motorized base. By example and without limitation, the sculpture light source 42 may be a rotating light fixture, for example, of the type disclosed by Eversley in U.S. Pat. No. 7,090,367 “Rotating Light Fixture And Method Of Making Same” issued Aug. 15, 2006, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference and rotating light fixture having a plurality of members, such as strings and rods, attached to a rotational device, with each member having a plurality of light sources connected to it. As disclosed by Eversley, the plurality of members can expand upon rotation to form a canopy shape, or the plurality of members can itself define a canopy shape, and upon rotation, the light fixture provides the appearance of a translucent solid shape. Alternatively, the light bulb or bulbs may be stationary but surrounded by a movable lantern having alternating transmissive and opaque areas on a screen that revolves around the light bulb to create the impression of movement. The transmissive areas may be colored to flow changing colors or create a moving scene that is projected on interior surfaces 58; 60 of the light transmissive structural panels that form the side and front portions 12, 16 of the cabinet 10, and optionally an interior surface 62 of the top portion 14 and an interior surface of the back panel 22 as well. One such light sculpture having an impression of movement is disclosed, by example and without limitation, by Poling in U.S. Pat. No. 5,893,626 “Safety Light With Colorful Rotating Illumination Pattern” issued Apr. 13, 1999, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference and discloses a safety light having a colorful rotating illumination pattern. The safety light consists of a housing containing at least one group of secondary lighting elements arranged substantially around a primary lighting element. The lighting elements are covered by a translucent face having a central portion overlying the primary lighting element and a group of colored elements overlying each group of secondary lighting elements. A circuit power the lighting elements such that the secondary lighting elements are illuminated in a rotating sequence, which produces a distinct light pattern. Another means for implementing a flow of changing colors or the impression of movement is disclosed by Fernandez in U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,143 “Rotating Light Circuit And Speaker Cover” issued Oct. 17, 1989, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference and discloses a vehicular after market accessory for replacing the original equipment cover for an audio speaker that disposes several light bulbs in a series of discrete locations about the circumference of the pre-existing audio speaker, each of which are in electrical communication with a circuit designed to illuminate the light bulbs in sequence to create the effect of light moving about the circumference of the speaker for creating the effect of two lights rotating about the circumference of the speaker directly opposite each other and in the same direction so that each of the lights appear to chase each other at a speed of rotation and intensity of illumination which bear no relationship to the audio output of the radio.

The light emitting device of the light source 42 is optionally the light strand or garland illustrated herein. The light garland is optionally composed a single strand of white or colored light bulbs. When the lights are colored, they may be all of a single color, or multi-colored having bulbs of two, or three or several different colors. Alternatively, the garland light source 42 is composed of multiple strands of light bulbs. By example and without limitation, the different strands are optionally composed of differently colored lights, with each of the strands having lights of a different color from the lights of the other strands, or all of the strands may be multi-colored.

FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of a lighting system 64 for generating and emitting light within the interior compartment 26 of the cabinet 10 and projecting light thus generated against the interior surfaces 58, 60, 62 of the light transmissive structural panels that form the side, front and top portions 12, 16, 14 of the cabinet 10, as well as the interior surface of the optionally light transmissive back panel 22. The lighting system 64 includes the light emitting device of the light source 42, which is shown here by example and without limitation as a garland light source 42 composed of multiple lighting strands 66, 68, 70, 72 of differently colored light bulbs 74, 76, 78, 80, respectively, such as red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet, or other colors in the normally visible spectrum or ultraviolet. Sugar discloses one such exemplary strand of differently colored light bulbs in U.S. Pat. No. 7,063,442 “Decorative Light String” issued Jun. 20, 2006; which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference, wherein a decorative light string is disclosed having a plurality of first and second lights, the first lights being distributed along the length of the light string and spaced apart by a first predetermined distance, and the second lights being arranged in a plurality of drops, and each drop is retained in alignment with one of the plurality of first lights by a coupling means. In one exemplary embodiment, Sugar teaches the decorative light string having a first light string including electrically parallel-connected C-type lights, a second light string including electrically series-connected mini lights arranged in drops, and a plurality of connectors for coupling the first and second light strings together.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the multiple strands 66, 68, 70, 72 of differently colored light bulbs 74, 76, 78, 80 of are strands of LED bulbs as disclosed, for example, by Lanzisera in U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,147 “LED Light String System” issued Feb. 27, 1996, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. Allen discloses another strand of LED bulbs in U.S. Pat. No. 6,072,280 “Led Light String Employing Series-Parallel Block Coupling” issued Jun. 6, 2000, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,461,019 “Preferred Embodiment To LED Light String” issued Oct. 8, 2002, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference, Allen discloses an LED light string having a plurality of LEDs wired in block series-parallel, where the one or more series blocks, each driven at the same input voltage as the source voltage (110 VAC or 220 VAC), are coupled in parallel. The LED light string interfaces to the source voltage using a common household plug. As disclosed by Allen, the LED string may also include a corresponding common, household socket, coupled in electrical parallel, to enable multiple light strings to be connected to each other from end to end. Tsao discloses in U.S. Pat. No. 6,648,498 “Light String Composed Of Light Emitting Diodes” issued Nov. 18, 2003, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference, a light string composed of multiple light emitting units, wherein each light emitting unit utilizes multiple LEDs as the light emitting source to generate various light colors for enriching visual effects. Further, the light string disclosed by Tsao is able to adhere to form any particular configuration as an attractive advertising device. Tsao also discloses that, by using the LEDs as the light source, power consumed by the light string is very low and operators of the light string are not exposed to high voltages. Allen discloses a LED lamp and a waterproof light string including one or more of the LED lamps in U.S. Pat. No. 7,066,628 “Jacketed LED Assemblies And Light Strings Containing Same” issued Jun. 27, 2006, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.

The lighting system 64 includes, by example and without limitation, a dedicated discrete control mechanism 82 of a known construction having by example and without limitation a switch 84 at least two positions 84 a and 84 b for alternately energizing and de-energizing the light source 42, i.e., turning on and off the light source 42. The control switch 84 may be a multi-positional switch having a position 84 c for sequencing the power between on and off, whereby a timing circuit and a programmable gating circuit responsive to the timing circuit generate gating signals for different triacs controlling the different strands 66, 68; 70, 72 of the garland light source 42 according to any of several predetermined sequential combinations for creating many different lighting effects. Such Christmas light string control mechanism are generally described by Weiner and Sauter in U.S. Pat. No. 4,215,277 “Sequencing Light Controller” issued Jul. 29, 1980, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.

The lighting system control mechanism 82 is optionally of another known construction such as but not limited to the type disclosed by the Wangs in U.S. Pat. No. 6,031,337 “Assembly Structure For Christmas Light String Controller” issued Feb. 29, 2000, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. For example, the control mechanism 82 is powered through a power cord 86 having a connector 88 for plugging into a power source such as a wall receptacle or a receptacle 46 of the power strip 44. Alternatively, the power cord 86 is hard wired directly into the power source, which may be the electronics control module 32, which in turn is for example plugged into one of the multiple electrical power receptacles 46 of the power strip 44. When the control mechanism 82 is of the general type known as a Christmas light string control mechanism generally described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,031,337, the lighting system control mechanism 82 includes a circuit board having connecting points for connecting with several conductive wires which serve to control chasing, flickering and pulsing of the multiple strands 66, 68, 70, 72 of the garland light source 42. The circuit board is structured with a contact area which is able to send out an actuating signal under control of a controlling switch 90 which is optionally either a push button switch or a rotary switch. Accordingly, when the controlling switch 90 is pressed or turned, a conductive area thereof contacts with the contact area to generate an actuating signal to the circuit board.

Optionally, the lighting system control mechanism 82 is further responsive to an audio signal for controlling chasing, flickering and pulsing of the multiple strands 66, 68, 70, 72 of the garland light source 42, as disclosed by example and without limitation by Dayan in U.S. Pat. No. 6,765,496 “Light Controller With Sensitivity Control” issued Jul. 20, 2004, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. Accordingly, the lighting system control mechanism 82 includes, for example, an audio input receiver 92, an optional sensitivity adjuster 94, and an optional power indicator 96, in addition to the controlling switch 90.

The audio input receiver 92 is structured to receive audible information such as audible music signals generated from one or more external speakers. The audio input receiver 92 is, for example, a transducer or microphone.

The lighting system control mechanism switch 84 here provides the user with various modes of operation. In this case, three optional switch positions are shown. If the user selects “light” switch position 84 a, the light source 42 may always be turned on when the control mechanism 82 is powered. If the user chooses “off” switch position 84 b, the light source 42 will not be energized and illuminated in response to an audible signal. If the user selects “flash” switch position 84 c, then the light source 42 may flash or change visually in response to the audible signal received by the audio input receiver 92. Different visual effects of the light source are possible in response to the audio signal, including, but not limited to chasing, flashing on and off or pulsing, dimming and brightening, and changing which color is illuminated.

The optional sensitivity adjuster 94, when present, is operable to adjust the signal output from audio input receiver 92. The sensitivity adjuster 94 is, for example, an adjustable transformer or potentiometer. The sensitivity adjuster 94 optionally ranges between a minimum and maximum volume. If the adjuster 94 is set to a maximum volume, the light control signal causes the light source to illuminate during the receipt of an audible signal by the audio input receiver 92 of the control mechanism 82. If the adjuster 94 is set to a minimum volume, the light control signal may cause the light source 42 to not illuminate at all, or alternatively, may cause the light source 42 to illuminate only in response to a very strong audible signal received by the audio input receiver 92 of the control mechanism 82. Selecting a sensitivity between the maximum and minimum volume will have an intermediate effect, such as causing the light source 42 to illuminate only in response to an audible signal of intermediate strength. The audible signal may be within the range of human hearing, or may be below or above the range of human hearing. As a first example, the audible signal may be of very low frequency, such as 20 Hz, whereby the beat of the audible signal can be felt by actuation of a subwoofer, but cannot be heard by the human ear. As a second example, the audible signal may be of very high frequency, such as 25 KHz. Therefore, it is possible for the light source 42 to illuminate even when the audible signal is beyond the range of human hearing.

As also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,765,496, sensitivity adjuster 94 may range between a minimum and maximum brightness. The sensitivity adjuster 94 optionally uses an adjustable transformer or potentiometer to control the brightness. For example, if the adjuster 94 is set to a maximum brightness, then the light control signal will cause the light source 42 to have maximum illumination when it turns on (which may be on all the time or on in response to the beat of the music, as described above). If the adjuster 94 is set to a minimum brightness, then the light control signal may cause the light source to have minimum illumination when it turns on. Selecting a sensitivity between the maximum and minimum brightness will have an intermediate effect, such as causing the light source to light up at an intermediate illumination level. According to the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 6,765,496, the circuitry for implementing the various embodiments of the control mechanism are well-known to those skilled in the electrical arts.

Optional power indicator 96 is, for example, a light emitting diode or other visual indicator that, when present, illuminates to show that the lighting system control mechanism 82 is operating when power is supplied.

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,509 “Sound Responsive Illumination Device” issued Apr. 2, 2002, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference, Johnson, III discloses another type of musical lighting system control mechanism that is optionally used for illuminating the cabinet 10 in an entertaining manner using electrical sound signals produced by an audio device. As disclosed by Johnson, the musical lighting system control mechanism includes a circuit that is adapted for electrically connecting to an audio device.

Another type of musical lighting system control mechanism that is optionally used for controlling the lighting system 64 illuminating the cabinet 10 in an entertaining manner in response to an audio input is disclosed by Forrest in U.S. Pat. No. 4,809,584 “Music Translation Device” issued Mar. 7, 1989, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference and discloses a music translation device that provides a light output pattern in response to an audio input by means of a divider circuit that provides a repeating output which commutates repeatedly among a series of output lines, each output line being connected to a pair of output devices with the output pairs are arranged along a pair of paths, and the output devices being oriented along the lines in an opposed order to create the illusion of oppositely directed motion along the paths.

Alternatively, the lighting system 64 may be optionally of a type having a system for varying the intensity of a plurality of lights in accordance with plural channel audio amplitude signals, for example, as disclosed by Stuyvenberg in U.S. Pat. No. 4,176,581 “Audio Amplitude-Responsive Lighting Display” issued Dec. 4, 1979, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference, wherein a housing is provided having multi-sided openings in the form of a variety of prismatic panels through which light passes from the interior of the housing. The housing mounts a plurality of banks of lights, certain of the lights being carried by a motorized member such that the lights rotate about a vertical axis. The banks of lights include a plurality of sets connected in a parallel fashion with each set having a selected number of lights connected in a series with a flashing unit. The lights are responsive to separate channels of audio amplitude signals, with each bank of lights being responsive to the amplitude of the associated channel of audio amplitude signals.

Alternatively, the electronics control module 32 includes the lighting system control mechanism 82 or other means for controlling the light source 42, for example, in the manner described herein above. By example and without limitation, when the electronics control module 32 is a computer, it includes a processor responsive to software commands for generating signals that alternately energize and de-energize the light source 42 according to a programmed sequence, or in response to the audible signal received by the audio input receiver 92, if present. The electronics control module 32 may be programmed to sequentially energize and de-energize each of the individual strands 66, 68, 70, 72 of the garland light source 42 independently of one another, or in combination one with the others as desired by the user. Accordingly, the electronics control module 32 optionally either includes or is substituted for the dedicated lighting system control mechanism 82 for controlling the light source 42 of the lighting system 64 without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The garland light source 42 is alternatively embodied as lighting strands 66, 68, 70, 72 each having its own dedicated flash control mechanism 82. Such chasing and programmable light strands are generally well-known to be programmable to blink in different patterns and at fast or slow rates, or programmable to be illuminated at all times without blinking. These well-known light strands have thicker wires than standard light strands because they are actually four strands rolled into one, and require use of the appropriate replacement bulbs to operate properly. The more sophisticated of such known lighting system 64 have 16-function programmable control mechanisms that are capable of controlling the lights in many different interesting patterns. Typically, such light systems 64 have a simple dedicated flash control mechanism 82 that is capable of driving all four separate lighting strands 66, 68, 70, 72. The four lighting strands 66, 68, 70, 72 may be interleaved rather than being one after the other. Typically, such a dedicated flash control mechanism 82 contains an integrated circuit and four transistors or triacs, one of the four transistors or triacs coupled to drive a different one of the four separate lighting strands 66, 68, 70, 72. The integrated circuit simply turns on a triac to light one of the four lighting strands 66, 68, 70, 72. By sequencing the triacs appropriately, the integrated circuit creates many different effects, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,215,277, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Shen discloses one exemplary embodiment of chasing and programmable light strands in U.S. Pat. No. 5,834,901 “lashing Light String Assembly With A Pair Of Sub-Light Strings Per Plug” issued Nov. 10, 1998, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. As disclosed by Shen, a flashing light string assembly includes a bus line connected to a power circuit through a flash control mechanism, one grounding wire and a plurality of hot wires, and a plurality of sockets connected to its grounding and hot wires. A plurality of the light strings each having a plurality of sub-light strings connected in parallel to a respective plug that is adapted for connecting to one socket of the bus line. Alternatively, the lighting strands 66, 68, 70, 72 each having its own dedicated flash control mechanism 82 may be of the type disclosed by Hsu in U.S. Pat. No. 5,942,857 “Bulb-Shaped Light String Flasher” issued Aug. 24, 1999, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference and discloses a flashing light string which includes a connecting electrical wire provided with a plurality of bulb holders that connect with housings with bulbs therein, and a bulb-shaped shell is provided with an inner small flash control mechanism which has a pair of conducting wires to be a controlling apparatus, which can be connected with a housing to be received in any bulb holder of the light string to control the light string having different flashing effects. Yet another optional embodiment of the garland light source 42 embodied as lighting strands 66, 68, 70, 72 each having its own dedicated flash control mechanism 82 is disclosed by example and without limitation by Cheng in U.S. Pat. No. 6,799,867 “Twinkling Light String” issued Oct. 5, 2004, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference, wherein a twinkling light string includes a main wire and several branch strings, with each branch string in interval being provided with a first bulb assembly or a second bulb assembly, and wherein one bulb holder can and only can be connected with a related socket of the same bulb assembly.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the lighting system control mechanism 82 is a manually operated switch, such as a dedicated one of the manual buttons 36, switches 38 or other control elements on the control panel 34 built into the console structure 18, or another control element located elsewhere on one of the sides 12, top 14, front 16 or back panel 22 portions of the cabinet 10 for easy access. Alternatively, the lighting system control mechanism 82 is, for example, provided by the manual switch 52 (best shown in FIG. 3) that is coupled into the power cord 48 of the power strip 44 when the light source 42 is powered by being plugged into one of its receptacles 46. Optionally, when the light source 42 includes multiple independent light sources, the different light sources are either controlled with different dedicated manual buttons 36 or switches 38, or all controlled in combination one with the others by a dedicated single manual button 36 or switch 38. For example, when the light source 42 includes the individual garland light strands 66, 68, 70, 72, each is optionally controlled by its own dedicated manual button 36 or switch 38 independently of the others, or with a single dedicated manual button 36 or switch 38 in combination one with the others. Alternatively, the individual light strands 66, 68; 70, 72 of the garland light source 42 are each plugged into receptacles 46 of the power strip 44 and controlled all together with the manual switch 52 coupled into the power cord 48, which also controls the electronics control module 32, the video monitor 30 and any other electronic components of the video game machine 1.

While the preferred and additional alternative embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the inventor makes the following claims. 

1: An electronic video game cabinet, comprising: a structural enclosure having at least an exterior structural portion thereof being at least partially transmissive of light, and the enclosure forming an interior electronics compartment; support structure within the compartment for supporting one or more electronic components; and an illumination source within the compartment and positioned for illuminating at least a portion of the structural portion of the enclosure that is at least partially transmissive of light. 2: The cabinet of claim 1 wherein the structural enclosure further comprises a plurality of structural wall panels forming and one or more exterior walls thereof, and at least one of the structural wall panels is at least partially transmissive of light. 3: The cabinet of claim 1 wherein the structural enclosure further comprises a plurality of structural wall panels forming one or more exterior walls, and at least one of the structural exterior wall panels is at least partially substantially translucent. 4: The cabinet of claim 3 wherein at least one of the structural wall panels of the enclosure further comprises a structural wall panel that is substantially entirely substantially translucent. 5: The cabinet of claim 3 wherein the structural enclosure further comprises a substantially transparent viewing screen on a front portion thereof claim 6: The cabinet of claim 3 wherein the enclosure further comprises a console structure on a front portion thereof claim 7: The cabinet of claim 6 wherein the console structure further comprises one or more structural panels, and at least one of the structural panels of the console structure is at least partially transmissive of light. 8: The cabinet of claim 6 wherein the structural wall panels forming one or more structural exterior walls further comprise one or more substantially translucent structural wall panels forming a front and two adjoining side structural wall portions of the structural enclosure. 9: The cabinet of claim 8, further comprising a control mechanism coupled to the illumination source for controlling the illumination source. 10: The cabinet of claim 9, further comprising: an electronics control module having an electronic video game resident thereon and having a processor structured for executing the games; a video monitor coupled to receive video output signal of electronics control module for converting the video output signal to viewable format; and a control panel having a plurality of manual control elements mounted on the console structure, one or more of the manual control elements being coupled to the electronics control module for controlling one or more elements of the electronic video game. 11: An electronic video game cabinet, comprising: a box-like structure defining a cabinet having an interior electronics compartment, the box-like structure being formed of one or more structural exterior walls, one or more of the structural exterior walls having a portion thereof being transmissive of light; a substantially transparent viewing screen mounted in a portion of one of the exterior walls; a light emitting device within the box-like structure emitting light in the visible spectrum; and means for alternately energizing and de-energizing the light emitting device. 12: The cabinet of claim 11 wherein the means for alternately energizing and de-energizing the light emitting device further comprises a programmable control mechanism. 13: The cabinet of claim 11 wherein the light emitting device further comprises one or more strands of light bulbs wired together along plastic coated electrical wires. 14: The cabinet of claim 13 wherein the light emitting device further comprises a plurality of the strands of light bulbs wired together along plastic coated electrical wires, the light bulbs of one or more of the strands being differently colored from the light bulbs of a different one of the strands. 15: The cabinet of claim 14 wherein the means for alternately energizing and de-energizing the light emitting device further comprises a dedicated control mechanism coupled to each of the plurality of strands of light bulbs. 16: The cabinet of claim 14, further comprising: an electronics control module resident within the interior electronics compartment, the electronics control module having an electronic video game resident thereon and having a processor structured for executing the games; a video monitor positioned within the interior electronics compartment in a viewing relationship with the viewing screen, the video monitor being coupled to receive video output signal of electronics control module for converting the video output signal to viewable format; and a control panel having a plurality of manual control elements mounted thereon, one or more of the manual control elements being coupled to the electronics control module for controlling one or more elements of the electronic video game. 17: A method for illuminating an electronic video game cabinet, the method comprising: forming a box-like cabinet structure having one or more exterior structural walls at least partially formed of a material being substantially transmissive of visible light; defining an interior electronics compartment within the exterior structural walls of the box-like cabinet structure; mounting a substantially transparent viewing screen in a portion of one of the exterior walls; and internally illuminating at least a portion of the interior electronics compartment. 18: The method of claim 17, further comprising alternately energizing and de-energizing a light emitting device illuminating at least a portion of the interior electronics compartment. 19: The method of claim 17 wherein internally illuminating at least a portion of the interior electronics compartment further comprises distributing a plurality of light emitting devices within the interior electronics compartment and adjacent to an interior surface of at least one of the exterior structural walls in a lighting relationship with a portion of the material being substantially transmissive of visible light. 20: The method of claim 19 wherein distributing a plurality of light emitting devices within the interior electronics compartment further comprises distributing a plurality of differently colored light emitting devices; and further comprising alternately energizing and de-energizing differently colored ones of the light emitting devices. 